Growth in Christ takes time, like any pursuit that truly matters. We need time to read Scripture, pray, and gather with the church, not just for worship, but to build real relationships with fellow believers.

If you want to grow spiritually, you need to develop some habits: reading God’s word, praying, and engaging with a local church. I don’t know any Christian who is genuinely growing without these practices, and I’ve also seen that when people drift from them, their growth usually stalls.

But as important as these habits are, they aren’t where you begin. They come later. First, focus on desire and time.

Desire

Before you take up any spiritual discipline, ask the most important question: Do I truly desire God? The goal isn’t to practice habits for their own sake; it’s to meet with the living God. These habits are meant to be means — pathways that lead us to him — not ends in themselves.

The good news is that God promises to be found by those who seek him. If you genuinely pursue him, he will honor that longing. But if you practice the disciplines without desire, you’ll eventually feel like you’re just going through the motions.

And remember: desire fluctuates. When your longing for God wanes, don’t panic, and don’t think you’re the only one. But don’t settle there either. Bring your coldness to him honestly, and ask him to rekindle what’s grown dim. You may also want to check out John Piper’s book When I Don’t Desire God for more help.

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